Portable room cooling apparatus



NOV. 16, 1937. i R BALLARD 2,099,188

PORTABLE ROOM COOLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1931 INVENTOR. J'qH/v A. BALLARD ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 16,1937

PORTABLE BOOM COOLING APPARATUS John R. Ballard; San Francisco, Calif.', minor to Dal-Rod, Inc., San Francisco, Calii'., a cor-.

poration of California Application October as. 1931, Serial No. 570,643

18 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and has for its objects a room cooling machine which may be located adjacent a partly opened window or other opening in the wall of a desired enclosure and set in motion to cool the air of the room while discharging the heat of compression to the outer air. Other objectsof the invention will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings In the drawing Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the apparatus with the principal features of the machinery within the case dotted in position and shown in full lines through the ventilating screens which are broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine with its bellows extended to a partially opened window for taking in cool air. and passing out heated air circulated around the machinery.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of part of the window of the house, as seen from outside of the window and showing the air screens. r

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the air expansion nozzles.

Fig. 6 is a front viewof the nozzle of Fig. 5.'

.In further detail the apparatus shows at I a cabinet or casing preferably supported on casters 2 for easy rolling about a room. Within the cabinet is an air-cooled conventional form of mechanical refrigerating apparatus though specially arranged to receive and discharge its circulation air through openings 3, 3' in the side of the cabinet and respectively covered by wire mesh screens 4, I or equivalent. The two ventilating openings are separated by a vertical partition 5 and which extends through and divides the space within an extensible, collapsible conduit preferably in the form of a bellows 6, the outer partition 5 being of cloth or otherwise made extendible so as to conform to the bellows so that the bellows when not in use can be folded against the side of the cabinet.

At the outer end of the bellows is a frame I arranged with sliding'portions 8 so that it may be extended to fit snugly within the'space under a partly raised common window sash 9 in the side wall ill of the room. Obviously the frame may be fitted in any other desired opening in the wall of the room.

The conventional apparatus which is especially arranged within the cabinet comprises a gas compressor ll driven by an electric motor i2, the compressor delivering the compressed gas to a condenser coil l3 which in turn delivers to a small liquid storage tank It and thence to an expansion valve l5 controlled by a thermostat, not shown, and from where the gas expands into suitable coils, not shown, in air-cooling chamber in an inner cabinet 2| mounted at the bottom of the main cabinet I. This cabinet or casing takes in air from theroom for cooling through an opening it near the bottom of the cabinet and delivers cooled air to the room through a plurality of special nozzles l1 shown best in Figs. 5 and 6 to be explained more fully herea ter.

The particular arrangement of parts within the casing l constitutes an important feature of the invention, and it should be noted that the compressor and'condensing coil are substantially on a level so as to be respectively opposite the openings 3, 3 in the wall of the casing so that the circulation air for carrying away the heat of compression enters the opening 3,- passes over and around the compressor to return in back of the partition 5 as denoted by the large arrow in Fig. 3 for passage over the motor I2 and forcing by a fan I! through (2011 i3 and out through opening 3' to the outer atmosphere.

The air of the room to be cooled is taken in at It through suction of a blower l9 driven by a motor and forced out of the nozzles I! upward into the room like a spray after the air has been cooled by passing over refrigerating coils located in a separate compartment 2| at the bottom of the cabinet I. The air-cooling coil is not shown, as any conventional coil may be used, though best results are had with a special air cooling coil as described and claimed in my copending application filed simultaneously herewith under Serial No. 570,641, filed October 23, 1931. Also, for the purpose of adding a percentage of fresh air to the room air being thus cooled, there is a large pipe 22 which extends from the incoming circulation air passage receiving outside air from opening 3, and which pipe opens into the air passage at the air-receiving end of the air-cooling chamber 2| to mix with the room air entering at IS. A damper 23 is arranged in the fresh air pipe so that the percentage of fresh air admitted to the room can be adjusted by turning a knob 24 on the side of the cabinet.

The construction of the air nozzles I1 is highly important in producing an even distribution of cold air in the room without localized chilling and stratification, and after much experimenting I have adopted the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and wherein the nozzle II has a. long narrow slot 25 which extends horizontally, while the 55 body of the nomle is directed upward at an angle oi about 45 and tapers funnel-like to pipe form. The upper wall of the nozzle rounds down as at 26 to the slot, and just inside of the slot the lower wall is formed with a ridge 21 which rounds downwardly and outwardly to form the lower lip ofthe-slot. This form of nozzle causes the utmost-distribution of the cold, air as the ridge 2'! and downward outer edge causes an eddy and deflection a wide area. a

The complete machine includes a thermostat "on the'casing at 28' exposed to the room air arranged in thewell lm'own manner; (not shown).

for starting and stopping the machine -'at the desired temperature 'pointi 1 Having-thus 'desc bed my improved portable room-cooling apparatus, whatI claim is:-

1'. A roomair cooler comprising a casing adapted'to be located in a room, an air-cooled refri erating set including-a gas compressor and a condenser mounted'in said casing including an alrf cooling means cooled by said set, mechanism iadapted to pass air into contact with said aircooling means and to distribute such cooled air 1 ..int o;the room, means for circulating air around I i fly-4100111311. comprising a'casing adaptto be Iocatefdin'aroom, a'refrigeratlng set ineluding a gas compressor and a condenser mountdai' ameraman; an air-cooling means cooled by said S t, jddfipted to passair into contact with said air coolingzmeans and to distribute suchcooled airinto-the room, said mechanism including an conduit disposed in the casing, said-conduit having a portion directed upwardlywithin the casing and tapering fun-' nel-like into a substantially'horizontally extending nomle. provided with. 'a'relatively long and narrow air distributing slot disposed at the upper part of the casingfor producing an even distribution of cold airin the roomlwithout chilling or stratification. I v f d Y 3. Aroom air cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room a refrigerator set including a gas compressor and a condenser mountedin said casing including an air-cooling means cooled by saidiset, mechanism adapted to pass air into contact with said air cooling means and to distribute such cooled air into the room, said mechanism including an air conduit disposed in said casing, said conduit tapering outwardly into an air-spreading nozzle which extends upwardly toward the top of said casing at an angle of substantially 45 degrees, said nozzle having an air-distributing orifice of relatively long and narrow'dimensions extending in substantially horizontal plane and at the top of the casing whereby to' produce an even distribution of cold air in the room without localized chilling or stratification.

.4. A room air cooler for a room comprising a portable casing adapted to be located in a room adjacent thewindow thereof, an air-cooled refrigerating set including a gas compressor, and a condenser mounted in said casing including an air cooling means cooled by said set, andmeans for cooling thecompressor and condenser coils of i said set comprising an air conduit having means which'spreads the cold air over localized sesame condenser mounted in said including an air coolingmeans cooled by said "set.- means for cooling --the compressor and condenser coils ofsaid set comprising a flexible air-conducting conduit having'a flexible internal partition to provide separate air inlet and a separate air outlet, said conduit having a substantially rigid frame at its outer end for insertion between the window sill and the raised window-sash, saidflexible partition-connecting with saidframe, l

.6. 'A room cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, an air-cooled refrigerating set including a gas compressor anda condenser mounted in said casing including an aircooled means cooled by said'set, means for air cooling the compressor and condenser coils includingan air conduit arranged to receive and deliver circulating air from a window of the room into the. casing and discharging the heated air from the casingout through said window, means for drawing .air from the room into said casing and into contact with the air-cooling means therein and for projecting said cooled air into the room, and means ;for drawing outside air through said window and through said air conduit and for mixing the same with the air passing over said cooling means.

7. A room cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in aroom, an air-cooled refrigerating set including a gas compressor and a condenser mounted in said casing including an aircooled means cooled by said set, means for air cooling the'compressor and condenser coils including an air conduit arranged to receive and deliver circulating air from an opening of the room connecting with outside air into the casing-and discharging the heated air from the easing out through said opening, means for drawing air from the room into said casing and into contact with the air-cooling means therein and for projecting said cooled air into the room, means for drawing outside air through said opening and through said air conduit and for mixing the same with the air passing over said cooling means,

and means for varying the volume of fresh air from outside said opening which. is mixed with the air passing over said cooling. means without varying the volume of fresh air passing over the compressor and condenser coils.

8. A room air cooler for a room comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, an aircooled refrigerating set including a gas compressor and a condenser mounted in said casing includinglan air cooling means cooled by said set, means in said casing forming an air passage about said compressor and condenser coil, the side wall of said casing. having openings registering with said air passage and having a laterally extending tube enclosing said opening and providing a detachable connection with a window opening, means for circulating the air from outside of said window through said tube into said passage about the compressor and confresh air discharged in said air cooling conduit.

denser coils and for discharging the heated air through said tube and outthrough said window opening, means forming a separate passagein said casing, said passage having an' inlet to said room', said'second passage including the air cooling means of said refrigerating set, said second passage terminating in means for projecting the cooled air into-the room, and a third passage in said casing having one end disposed at the opening and in registration with the tubular conduit connecting to the rindow and having the other end discharging into said second mentioned conduit for the purpose of admixing a desired volume of fresh air with the air that is drawn from the room and that is cooled-and projected back into the room. a

9.- A room cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, said casing having its bottomportion arranged to provide an air cooling chamber having an inlet passage connecting with theroom, and an outlet passage extending upwardly and terminating in means adapted to project air into the room, a blower associated to project air passing through said air passageway into the room, an air-cooled refrigerating set comprising a compressor and a condenser disposed in said casing above said aircooling compartment, the wall of the casing opposite said condenser and compressor being apertured to provide an air inlet and an air outlet, a tubular conduit connecting said air inlet and said air outlet with the opening in the window, and a fan disposed in said casing for causing a circulation of air through said window, through said air inlet and about the compressor and condenser and thence out through said outlet and through the window, said set including an evaporation coil disposed in the first air-cooling chamber forcooling air passing therethrough, and a fresh air conduit disposed in said casing and having an open end terminating at the inlet opening and connecting with the tubular fresh air conduit, said fresh air conduit discharging inside of said casing into the first mentioned air cooling chamber, control means for governing the volume of fresh air discharged in said air-cooling conduit,

10. A room cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, said casing having its bottom portion arranged to provide an air cooling chamber having an inlet passage connecting with the room, and an outlet passage extending upwardly and terminating in means adapted to project air into the room, a blower associated to project air passing through said air passageway into the room, an air-cooled refrigerating set comprising a compressor and a condenser disposed in said casing above said air-cooling compartment, the wall of the casing opposite said condenser and compressor being apertured to providean air inlet and an air outlet, a tubular conduit: connecting said air inlet and said air outlet with the opening in the window, and a fan disposed in said casing for causing a circulation of air throughvsaid window, through said air inlet and about the compressor and condenser and thence out through said outlet and through the window, said set including an evaporation coil disposed in the first air-cooling chamber for cooling air passing therethrough, a fresh air conduit disposed in said casing and having an open end terminating at the inlet opening and connecting with the tubular fresh air conduit, said fresh air conduit discharging inside of said casing into the first mentioned air cooling chamher, control means for governing the volume of and a thermostaticallycontrolled expansion valve mounted in said casing and forming a part of said refrigeration set;

11. A room cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, said casing having its bottom portion arranged to provide an air coolingchamber having an air inlet passage connecting with the room and having an outlet passage extending upwardly within the casing and terminating in an air nozzle, a blower in said air passage for projecting the air into the room, an air cooled refrigerating set comprising a compressor mounted in said casing above said air cooling chamber, and a motor spaced from said compressor and mounted above said air cooling cabinet, said motor having its driving axis par.- allel with the driving axis of the compressor, and driving means from the motor shaft to the compressor. a fan on the motor shaft, and a condenser coil connecting with the compressor and disposed in the path of 'the forced draft created window thence through the inlet passage of said conduit, thence through said compressor and about said condensercoils and out through said conduit and through said window.

1 2. A room cooler for rooms comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, an air-cooled refrigerating setinoluding a cooling coil in said casing and a condenser and compressor in said casing but insulated from the cooling coll, means for circulating air from the room about the cooling coil and thence back into the room, means for passing outside fresh air into said casing about the condenser and compressor and for discharging the heated air outside the room, and means for passing a portion of the fresh air admitted to said casing about the cooling coil.

13. A room cooler for rooms comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, an air-cooled refrigerating set including a cooling coil in said casing and a condenser and compressor in said casing but insulated from the cooling coil, means for circulating air from the room about the cooling coil and thence back into the room, means for passing outside fresh air into said casing about the condenser and compressor and for discharging the heated air outside the room, and means for passing a portion of the fresh air admitted to said casing into said room for adding a percentage of fresh air to the room.

14. A room cooler comprising a casing adapted to be located in a room, an air-cooled refrigerating set including a gas compressorand condenser mounted in said casing including an aircooled means cooled by said set, means for air cooling the compressor and condenser coils including an air conduit arranged to receive and deliver fresh air from an opening of .the room into the casing and for discharging the heated air from the casing out through said opening, means for drawing air from the room into said casing into contact with the air-cooling means therein and for projecting said cooled air back into the room, and means for drawing outside fresh air through said opening and through said air conduit and for mixing the same with the air passing over said cooling means.

15. A portable room cooler comprising a cas-. ing adapted to be located in a room opposite a window, said casing inclosing an air-cooled refrigerator set including a gas compressor and condenser disposed in a chamber of the casing. and an air-cooling means cooled by said set disposed in a separate chamber of the casing, said compressor and condenser 0011' being located substantially on the same level and at a level substantially registering with the bottom of a window opening of the room, said first-mentioned chamber of the casing having an opening opposite the compressor and condenser, said opening being disposed at the level of the bottom sash of the casing, and a collapsible hollow conduit disposed about the margins of-said opening, said conduit having means at its outer end for disposal under the window sash when raised for permitting the outside air to go through the window, through the conduit and into the chamber about the compressor and condenser and for passing back out through the window, means for causing a circulation of said air through said conduit, and means for passing air from the room about the cooling coil and for passing the cooled air back into the room.

16. A room cooler unit comprising a refrigerant evaporator and air duct therefor, a refrigerant condenser and air duct therefor, means for effecting circulation of room-air over said evaporatori means for eifectinginflow of outside air over said condenser and then to the outside for conducting condenser heat to the outside atmosphere, and ventilating means for supplying fresh outside air to the room air as it passes through the unit.

17. A self-contained room cooler unit adapted to be placed in a room adjacent a. window or other suitable opening in the room wall compris- =.ing, in combination, a refrigerant evaporator.

means for effecting circulation of room air over said evaporator to cool the room air, a refrigerant condenser, and means for effecting flow of exterior air through the window and over the condenser and thence out through the window to conduct away the condenser heat including ventilating means adapted to supply to the room air fresh air diverted from the stream of condenser cooling air. I

18. A room cooler unit comprising a refrigerant evaporator and air duct therefor," a refrigerant condenser and air duct therefor, meansfor eifecting circulation of room air over said evaporator, means for effecting inflow of outside air over said, condenser and then to the outside for conducting condenser heat to the outside atmosphere, and ventilating means for diverting air from the stream of condenser cooling air and admitting the diverted air to the room air at a point before the room air flows over said evaporator, thereby cooling the fresh air before entering the room.

. JOHN R, B'AILARD. 

